Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Watching with Jesus" Wednesday, 16 April 2014 - Read Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.” 37 He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”
39 He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
40 He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.” 43 He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words. 45 Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”
[Jesus] said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”--Matthew 26:38 (NIV)
Eager to accept the challenge to keep watch with Jesus, during Lent I set aside a time to pray for one hour. As I see Easter approaching, I remember Christ’s agony in Gethsemane, his disappointment over one who betrayed him and one who denied him. On the cross, Jesus poured out his blood to purchase eternal life for me and for all who believe. I’m awestruck by such great love! After a time, I ran out of words to express this love, and I began to think of other things. I thought about a family dealing with a job loss. I prayed that the right job would open up. I prayed for the children’s emotional well-being. I prayed that financial needs would be met. I wondered, What can I do to help in a tangible way? When the answer came, I extended my prayer to follow through with action. In my hour of watching with Jesus, I discovered that there are many ways to pray: Write an uplifting note to someone who is ill or going through a tough time. Prepare meals for a family in crisis. Take a person who is homebound to lunch or to a medical appointment. Anything we do to improve the well-being of another one of God’s people can be a way of “watching with Jesus.”
The Author: Esther M. Bailey (Arizona, USA)
Thought for the Day: We can extend our prayers through acts of service.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, inspire us with creative ways to watch with Jesus. Amen.
Prayer focus: Those learning to pray
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